The O2

The O2, originally built as the Millennium Dome, was constructed to house the Millennium Experience, a year-long exhibition marking the start of the third millennium. It was developed by AEG and designed by Populous and Buro Happold. Despite its grand opening on January 1, 2000, the exhibition failed to attract the expected crowds, leading to financial struggles and political controversy throughout the project.

In 2001, Meridian Delta was selected to redevelop the Dome into a sports and entertainment hub. The government granted Meridian Delta a 999-year lease, and Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) took a 58-year sublease to operate The O2. AEG worked with Populous and Buro Happold to design a state-of-the-art entertainment venue, which cost £350 million to complete. Construction focused on building new structures within the Dome without altering the iconic exterior. The venue officially rebranded as The O2 in 2005 after selling naming rights to the mobile company O2.

The O2 has since grown into London’s most extensive entertainment district, hosting various events, concerts, and activities. It features a massive arena, an “Entertainment Avenue” lined with restaurants and bars, and a retail centre called the Icon Outlet, which opened in 2018. Initially designed for a super casino, the outlet houses over 60 premium stores, including Nike, Levi’s, and Adidas. The retail centre “completes the loop” of The O2’s transformation from a controversial exhibition space into a vibrant cultural hub.

The structure also faced challenges, such as damage caused by Storm Eunice in 2022, when winds ripped parts of the fibreglass roof. Despite this, The O2 remains one of London’s most popular entertainment venues, drawing millions of visitors annually.

AEG’s original plans for a super casino, hotel, and other attractions, like a cable car from Canary Wharf, were scrapped after Manchester won the trial license for the UK’s only super casino in 2007.